Phishing Attacks in UK Schools: Why Staff Training Is Your Best Defence
Andrew Smith
Senior Director Business & Operations
Kyocera Cyber
Andrew Smith is the founder of Kyocera Cyber, a MSSP. With 20 years of experience in strategic IT/Cyber Security leadership, Andrew’s track record is testament to his visionary leadership style and commercial acumen.
Andew is passionate about cybersecurity; he is proud of the differentiated service his team deliver and the straight talking, value driven advice that customers and partners can rely on.
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Cyber threats are no longer confined to big corporations or government bodies, UK schools are increasingly in the crosshairs of cyber criminals.
According to the 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey (1), phishing attacks are the most common form of cyber breach in the education sector, affecting up to 91% of higher education institutions and 89% of schools.
But why are schools such attractive targets? And what can be done to protect them?
The Scale of the Problem
The government’s survey paints a concerning picture:
- 44% of primary schools and 60% of secondary schools reported cyber breaches in the past year.
- 85% of further education colleges and 91% of universities experienced attacks.
- Phishing was the most common breach type across all levels.
These attacks often come in the form of deceptive emails that trick staff into clicking malicious links or sharing login credentials. Once inside, attackers can access sensitive student data, disrupt learning platforms, or even lock systems for ransom.
Real-Life Examples from UK Schools
The Fake IT Update
A secondary school in the Midlands received an email that appeared to be from their IT department, asking staff to “update their passwords” via a link. Several teachers complied, unknowingly handing over their login details. The attackers used these credentials to access the school’s internal systems and attempted to redirect payroll payments.
The Exam Leak Scare
In a London sixth-form college, a phishing email claimed to offer early access to exam papers. A curious staff member clicked the link, which installed malware on their device. The breach triggered a full system lockdown and disrupted online learning for two days.
The Supplier Scam
A primary school in Yorkshire received an invoice from what looked like a trusted supplier. The finance officer paid the amount, only to discover later that the email was spoofed. The school lost over £3,000 and had to involve law enforcement.
These are illustrative scenarios created to reflect common phishing tactics targeting UK schools. They were not pulled from a specific published source, but rather inspired by patterns and incidents reported in government surveys.
Why Staff Training Matters
- Higher awareness of phishing tactics
- Faster reporting of suspicious emails
- Fewer successful breaches
- Identify red flags in emails (e.g., poor grammar, urgent tone, unfamiliar links)
- Understand the importance of secure passwords and multi-factor authentication
Leadership Makes a Difference
Encouragingly, 98% of primary schools and 97% of universities say cyber security is a priority for senior leadership (2).
This top-down support is crucial for:
- Allocating budgets for training and tools
- Creating a culture of cyber awareness
- Ensuring policies are enforced consistently
How can Kyocera Cyber help build a Cyber-Resilient School?
The best way to tackle phishing is to provide regular training sessions to all staff (including non-teaching roles) and back that up with simulated phishing attacks to test awareness and response.
Kyocera Cyber takes this one step further by offering a managed service called Managed Phishing Defence which takes away the reliance on schools IT team in providing staff training and simulated attacks.
Regular training to staff and simulated attacks are provided, the reduction in your schools’ risk score is measured and tracked.
Education module completion rates and cyber awareness compliance is tracked, which allows your HR team to provide the mandatory training measurements and awareness education required by law.
Campaign activity insights allow continued progression in staff knowledge based on user behaviours.
Cyber criminals are evolving, and so must our defences. With phishing attacks affecting nearly every corner of the UK education sector, staff training is no longer optional, it’s essential.
By partnering with Kyocera Cyber, schools can protect their data, their reputation, and most importantly, their students.
FAQs
What is Phishing?
Why is Phishing so common in schools?
Are Phishing emails evolving?
Cyber Solutions.
Managed Phising Defence.
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Our state-of-the-art AI powered and hyper-automated Managed Security Operations Centre (MSOC) is the ultimate solution for robust cyber defence.
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(1)https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025
(2)https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025-education-institutions-findings